MovieChat Forums > Can-Can (1960) Discussion > Granted That It's Not Prime Porter...

Granted That It's Not Prime Porter...

posted 11 years ago by jononfire
2 replies | jump to latest

It manages to be totally ersatz, a weak and utterly incredible Americanization of a stage show that did manage to pull off some authentic flavor and atmosphere. Everything is brassy and most is flagrantly anachronistic, the casting of Sinatra (written into the screenplay) is particularly puerile, the omission of some of the score's great songs -- "Allez-Vous En", for one -- in favor of older ones that had become generic and don't belong, all add up to an insult to the filmgoer's intelligence.

"Believe not what you only wish to believe, but that which truth demands"

[–] steven_torrey 9 years ago

It is true, the songs are by Cole Porter but the performances are mediocre at best. None of the renditions end up memorable. Doris Day, in a tuxedo, singing "Just one of Those things" in Lullaby of Broadway broke a mold that Maurice Chevalier can barely touch. Bob Hope singing "You do Something to Me" outshines Louis Jordan's feeble attempt. And so it goes. None of the performances of Porter's songs were memorable or interpreted memorably. This despite the performers were excellent; some how they failed in their renditions.

[–] jm31315 9 years ago

I kind of like Mr. Jourdan's singing of "You Do Something to Me." The orchestrations are marvelous but lean toward he contemporary side (but beautiful ones by Nelson Riddle, I think), and I think that's why I have some problems with "Can-Can."